Israel’s Military Begins Ground Offensive In Gaza

May 14, 2021 Joseph Sosa Latest News, Politics 0

Israel’s military is attempting to walk back some initial statements, claiming they were mistranslated to the AFP – confirming that “ground troops” are now involved in operations at the border but that the “invasion” has yet to begin inside the Gaza Strip…

Things continue to escalate rapidly into the overnight hours.

The Israeli Defense Forces have confirmed there are “troops on the ground”…

“I said that we will exact a very heavy price from Hamas, we are doing this, and we will continue to do so,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated. “The last word has not been said, and this operation will continue as long as necessary.”

Israel has announced the commencement of ground operations in Gaza: “IDF air and ground troops are currently attacking in the Gaza Strip,” the Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson announced on social media.

While IDF statements to the media appear to be stopping short of calling the new operation a “ground invasion” – it appears this is exactly where things are going, resembling the devastating 2014 war.

Israel’s Kann state broadcaster is citing reports that the electricity is completely cut after massive attacks on northern Gaza.

Tanks and artillery units were already mustered at the border, assisting in the airstrikes with mortar and tank fire.

Into the night hours Thursday (local time), Hamas unleashed a large wave of rockets on southern and into central Israel.

Israel has vowed to expand its Gaza operations until “there is complete quiet” – according to the words of Defense Minister Benny Gantz. And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has clarified with a new statement:

“I said that we will exact a very heavy price from Hamas, we are doing this, and we will continue to do so.”

“The last word has not been said, and this operation will continue as long as necessary.”

Today was also widely reported as the worst day for rioting and ‘lynching attacks’ in Jewish-Arab mixed cities and towns across Israel…

Israel’s Defense Ministry had earlier in the day called up close to 10,000 reserve forces and put a freeze on troops departing their assigned posts for military leave. This after Israel’s media began widely reporting that the Defense Ministry has put contingency plans in place for “all-out war”.

The reports come after on Wednesday Defense Minister Benny Gantz previously threatened “Gaza will burn”. He said: “If citizens of Israel have to sleep in shelters” due to Hamas rocket attacks “then Gaza will burn.”

On Thursday Israeli troops have begun amassing at Gaza’s border amid widespread rumors of preparations for a ground invasion. It comes also as violence between Jewish and Arab communities inside Israel ratcheted further overnight, taking the form of mob riots and attacks on either mosques or synagogues.

Overnight from Wednesday Israeli media estimates that 150 rockets and mortar shells were fired from the Gaza Strip into Thursday, bringing the total fired since fighting began early this week to around 1,500 total rockets.

Israel has in return continued to pound the densely packed Gaza Strip with airstrikes, with the death toll soaring to at least 83 Gazans killed, including 17 children, and and additional almost 500 wounded, according to Gaza’s health ministry on Thursday. At least seven Israelis have died, including a 5-year old boy, with dozens injured from the inbound rockets.

Reuters is reporting that additional forces have arrived to Israel’s southern border after last night Israel’s Security Cabinet approved expanding operations in Gaza, especially the airstrikes which are expected to continue through the week.

“Israeli troops massed at Gaza’s border on Thursday and Palestinian militants pounded Israel with rockets in intense hostilities that have caused international concern and touched off clashes between Jews and Arabs in Israel,” Reuters details.

A number of social media videos in the past days have purported to capture large convoys of Israeli tanks headed toward Gaza.

Further on Thursday Defense Minister Benny Gantz has called up extra Border Patrol reserves to help quell the ethnic attacks and chaos breaking out across multiple mixed Jewish-Arab towns and cities.

Gantz called in a “massive reinforcement” of reserve forces to help get control of the spiraling domestic situation which has seen Jewish mobs and Arab mobs clash and essentially hunt each other down in the streets, resulting in what many are calling lynching situations.

“We are in an emergency situation due to the national violence and it is now necessary to have a massive reinforcement of forces on the ground, and they are to be sent immediately to enforce law and order,” Gantz announced, confirming the extra forces called up will be reservists.

Meanwhile a number of towns and cities in Israel are under curfews and states of emergency as mayors ask for help from the government in helping to quell the continuing escalating violence.


Via Zero Hedge